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The Kings Beard-A-Thon is Back

LOS ANGELES – The NHL playoffs are like nothing else -- the passion, the excitement, and, yes, the playoff beards.

In keeping with a great hockey tradition and supporting local charities, the playoff-bound Los Angeles Kings again invite their fans to “grow one for the team” this playoff season.

The Kings Beard-a-thon® is an opportunity for fans to grow their own playoff beard and raise money for charity. All proceeds from the 2011 Kings Beard-a-thon will benefit the Kings Care Foundation.

Last season, 275 fans “grew one for the team” and raised more than $27,000 for charity.

Participants in the Kings Beard-a-thon invite family, friends and business associates to pledge their playoff beards. By joining the Kings Beard-a-thon, fans pledge to maintain their beard as long as the Kings remain in the playoffs. Fans who are unwilling, or unable, to grow playoffs beards, can also pledge their friends or favorite Kings player. For more information, or to enroll in the Kings Beard-a-thon, please log onto www.lakings.com/beardathon.

“The Beard-a-thon is a fun and creative way for fans to celebrate a great hockey tradition and to participate in the Kings playoff run. We look forward to building upon last season’s success on and off the ice and raising money for a great cause, ” said Kings President, Business Operations Luc Robitaille.

As an added incentive, the Kings fan who raises the most money will win a (prize/the Royal Treatment at a 2011-12 Kings game). All donations to the Kings Beard-a-thon are tax deductible.

About the Playoff BeardA playoff beard is the superstitious practice of a National Hockey League player not shaving his beard during the Stanley Cup playoffs. The player stops shaving when his team enters the playoffs and does not shave until his team is eliminated or wins the Stanley Cup. It is believed that the tradition was started in the 1980s by the four-time Stanley Cup Champion, New York Islanders. In recent years, other sports and other players have claimed the playoff beard tradition, but it is, and always will be, a hockey tradition.

About CharityThe Los Angeles Kings are proud to be an integral part of the Los Angeles community, both on and off the ice. Kings community outreach is focused on enhancing educational, recreational and health-related programs for the youth of the Los Angeles area. Kings players and members of the Kings family, actively work with local youth organizations and community groups to increase awareness and raise funds to support the Kings community signature initiatives.

The Kings Care Foundation, the Los Angeles Kings award-winning children’s charity provides in-kind and monetary support for the Los Angeles community. Since it’s inception in 1996, the Foundation has contributed over $5 million to local charities supporting youth causes thanks to private donors and fundraising efforts, which include the Los Angeles Kings Bud Light Golf Tournament, Kings Camp, Tip-A-King, Game-Night Silent Auctions and In-Arena Messages.

In August 2009, the Kings Care Foundation proudly announced a $500,000 commitment to the Blood Donor Center at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. The largest donation ever made by the Foundation will serve to increase the much-needed collection of life-saving blood for the most seriously ill and injured children at Children’s Hospital through the LA Kings Bloodmobile.